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When will we learn to duck?

“Voting Rights Act Ruling Prompts Action By States”…….. “Across the South, Republicans are working to take advantage of a new political landscape after a divided U.S. Supreme Court freed all or part of 15 states, many of them in the old Confederacy, from having to ask Washington’s permission before changing election procedures in jurisdictions with histories of discrimination…”

“Rep. John Lewis, an Atlanta Democrat and civil rights activist who was beaten as he advocated for voting rights in the 1960s, called the ruling a “dagger.”

“President Barack Obama said he was “deeply disappointed” in the court overturning “well-established practices that help make sure voting is fair.”

When the left-wing of the bird(aka Ralph Nader, Smiley, West, et al) and the right-wing of the bird (aka Justices Roberts, Thomas, Scalia, ad disappointing) fly in to “help” you; immediately duck for cover, as you are about to get pooped on! It is now very clear that, YES ELECTIONS DO MATTER! But it is my hope that this “last kick (albeit dangerous) of a dying bull” will not be successful. For if this desperate judicial act of maintaining the illegitimate power of a shrinking demographic is their best shot, and then indeed they are in serious trouble. This may serve as a stimulus and vehicle to awaken Black-America out of its “post-racial”, “we have arrived” illusionary state. Rights earned and not protected in struggle; can be taken away, without a struggle. The next (2016) presidential candidate on the Democratic side will probably not be an African-American; and will surely not be perfect. We need to analyze candidates and elections in the context of a hierarchical, broad and comprehensive “things we need”; “things that are important” list. This list should include the very numerous, virtually unknown and important “below cabinet” appointments, and the (as we see in the SCOTUS recent decisions) the very powerful judicial appointments. I don’t know about anyone else, but I think that having a Black man in position of power on a court, who hates himself, and (by logical extension) hates those who look like him; is a very dangerous situation. Judge Thomas is perhaps willing to go beyond and below his White colleagues in proving his conservative authenticity. In the future we need thoughtful and caring Kagan-Sotomayor like appointments to this very important post.

There is perhaps no one more disappointed than me by Mr. Obama’s wasted opportunity to do some meaningful and powerful work in education; as opposed to what we have: “Bush educational policies part 2, the: “leave some children purposely behind movie sequel”. But watching the horrible behavior of the Republicans during his two terms, and the right (wrong) side of the Supreme Court in action; I am definitely not ready to join the: “There is no difference between the Democrats and Republicans Club.”